Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc

Description

Judged by the standards of one century, the noblest characters of an earlier one lose much of their luster. Judged by the standards of today, there are not many from five or six centuries ago whose character stands the test of time. But the character of Joan of Arc is unique. It can be measured against all time without misgiving. It is flawless. It is ideally perfect. It occupies the loftiest place possible to human attainment.

“Now listen to what an old man tells you. My best book is my Recollections of Joan of Arc. ...it furnished me seven times the pleasure afforded me by any of the others; twelve years of preparation, and two years of writing. The others needed no preparation and got none.” —Mark Twain

Illustrated with original drawings by F.V. du Mond, and from reproductions of old paintings and statues.

Fun bit of trivia: The narrator of this story is the fictitious Sieur Louis de Conte, a childhood friend of Joan of Arc’s, and later her page and secretary. His initials are SLC, the same initials as in the author’s real name, Samuel Langhorne Clemens!